UNITED STATES President Joe Biden on Monday (Washington, D.C. time) will send a "first of its kind" presidential trade and investment mission to the Philippines in a bid to promote broad-based economic growth.
Biden announced this initiative following the bilateral meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in Washington, D.C.
The mission is expected to enhance US companies’ investment in the Philippines’ innovation economy, clean energy transition and critical minerals sector. It would also feature the highest caliber of US business leaders.
Biden underscored the “strong partnership” and “deep friendship" between the Philippines and the US that has been "enriched by millions of Filipino-Americans and the communities all across the United States.”
Biden also committed to step up America’s support in a wide range of issues, including climate change mitigation and economy.
“We’re tackling climate change, we’re accelerating our countries’ chances… and we’re standing up for our shared democratic values and workers’ rights… and together we’re deepening our economic cooperation,” Biden told Marcos.
Both leaders have agreed to deepen collaboration to fight climate change, expand clean energy production and protect the environment.
In a joint statement, Marcos and Biden particularly reaffirmed to undertake urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as expand renewable energy production to accelerate the clean energy transition while bringing down energy costs and expanding energy access for families.
Marcos thanked Biden for America’s assistance and sought to strengthen “alliances and partnership in the face of the new economy that we are facing post-pandemic.”
During Monday’s Oval Office meeting, the two leaders reviewed opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, expand both nations’ special people-to-people ties, invest in the clean energy transition and address the climate crisis and ensure respect for human rights.
The leaders also discussed regional matters and coordinate efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Philippine Cabinet officials and their US counterparts also held a meeting with Marcos and Biden in an expanded bilateral meeting in the White House.
Among the Philippine officials who attended the expanded bilateral meeting include National Security Adviser Eduardo Año; Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.; Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Antonia Yulo Loyzaga; Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual; Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy; Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla; Migrant Workers Department Secretary Maria Susana “Toots” Ople and Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo.
Marcos is also set to visit the Pentagon and meet Cabinet executives and business leaders during his stay in Washington. (Filane Mikee Cervantes)
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